TURF TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1917, Page 8

TURF TOPICS.

(By "Moturoa."). Mar ton face;; to-day. Interlude is an unlikely starter. Orleans has been heavily backed for the Marton Handicap. Sivi:iton, w|io ran third at Trentham, is a likely starter in the Hack Hurdles. Kiltess finished just outside a place in tho Winter Cup, and may bo better over a mile and a quarter, The Hawke's Bay boom. Chuckle, will have the services of G. Clarke in the Marton Handicap. Heavy rain fell at Marton on Saturday and Sunday, and, though there was a good drying wind blowing on Tuesday, the rcuing track % likely to be a trifle holding, An exchange reports that Kauri King will not be a runner to-day. Are they frightened of the three-year-olds? oV do they think- Goldfire can do the trick? In spite of (he utter lack of railway facilities—due to the department's stupidity—the Marton meeting has already attracted sportsmen and horses from all parts of the North Island. Auckland has sent about 17 horses, and Wellington, Wangamii, Hawke's Bay and Taranaki almost as many. Mention of the disabilities under which sportsmen are forced to stagger these days reminds one that many of the horses that raced at the Grand National meeting have not been allowed to return home yet. Some of the Aueklandcrg toofc a fortnight to get to Iticcarton, and they will be lucky if they get back to Ellerslh; jnside a month. Of course, this sort of Uupidlfy will win the war. ipofitilliwj has not been jumping too kindly ai late, but the big black fellow is a liorso of moods, and if allowed to il bowl along in front way fun a good race. \ Last year the same stftblo supplied the ! winner in C' mbustion, who, rcptft says, | fan unbacked. 1 Mit» Sation <&ttms 10J1 when site 1.

won the Spreydon Hurdles at P.iccarton. She has 11.1 to-day. Last season Swinton won throe gentlemen joeksters' events, liis best "gallop in public being at Waipuknrau, where lie scored with 11.8 over a mile and a-half in 2min 42 1-usee. By the way. several contemporaries state that .Swinton is bv Hymettus, which is incorrect, Birkenhead being his sire. Hymettus has no six-year-olds racing-. Some of the allowed cracks in the Trial Plate at Marton are: Piano (Hvmettus -Paean). Coolpan (Coolirim-4'iisiv) Lady Beaufort (Cardinal Beaufort—Cistra), Finlandia (Finland—Trebelli), and Eloquence (Demosthenes—Formula). Probably. Piano and l.ady Beaufort will carry most money, iPiano was only started twice last year, running unplaced in the Maiden Hack race (won by her stablemat" Bclair), at the Ilawke's Bay J.C. mooting, and also finishing outside' a place in the Juvenile Handicap at the same meeting. Vermillion won this event by a length from Mnrquetcur, the latter being coupled with Piano. The latter is a nice cut of a three-year-old, and should pay her way this season. Union Jack has been fencing splendidly at Wanganui, and over the small stick's has made hacks of (Postillion and others. He is nicely treated in the Hack Steeples at Marton, though Bodenham may have more backers on the course, Palmerston people are sanguine that Master Strowan—or. as thev call him, ''Master Stroll In"—will run a great race 'in the Kangitikei Steeples. Taranaki sports are equally confident of Sandy 'Paul's ability to land the race, so a keen contest in assured. ' Silver Tongue, Acre, Belair and Turangipito are much-discussed candidates in the Electric Handicap. Acre is galloping very well, and with M. McCartcn in the saddle will claim a 31bs allowance. There is a tendency to rush. Elocution for the Railway Handicap, but such a noted mudlark as Centre cannot be easily disposed of, Hewitt will ride Centre, and he seems to have the happv knack of getting the Hymettus—Target gelding out well. Ilawke's Bay stables appear to hold a very strong hand in the settlement of thi.i sprint. "Put them all in a hat, and pick me one out" is applicable to the ridiculous held of 85 In the Tutaemii welter, though seratchlhgs may give a much-needed depletion, Gluclan is good in the mud, as is Woodlark. but anybody who goes for a "recovery" on such a race should be medically examined,